Urban Renewal (Urban Elite Book 1)

by Suzanne Steele

  “You really need to work on your language. Don’t you want people to see you as a lady?”

  She rolls her eyes as her phone starts to ring. Of course I listen in as she answers it.

  “Dr. Chambers, hi. I’ve been meaning to call you. Oh, that’s right…Liam. Dinner? Tonight?” She chuckles.

  “Well, I’m flattered, but to be honest I’m not a country club kind of girl. No offense, Doc. Okay, looking forward to it. Merlot’s, downtown. Yeah, that sounds great.” She ends the call and turns her attention back to me.

  “A date with a doctor,” I say, impressed. “Where did you meet this guy?”

  “I met him in a coffee shop while I was there meeting with my old professor.”

  I want to probe but I have to be careful. This girl isn’t my woman, she’s my employee. There’s a big difference there. I’m hoping she’ll keep talking to give me a feel for this guy so I don’t say anything wrong.

  “I wanted my professor’s take on the serial killer contacting me. He’s always encouraged his students to do whatever it takes to get the story—you know, other than crossing moral boundaries we’ve set for ourselves. Anyway, ironically enough, a friend of his was in the coffee shop and he just happens to be an orthopedic surgeon. I asked him if I could ask him some questions sometime. I’d like to get his thoughts on the technical side of what we’re seeing in this case.”

  “And he opted for a country club, that’s pretty high class. So is this a date?” She looks at me as if I’m crazy.

  “First off, we agreed on Merlot’s downtown. Second, he’s not my type, Jack—too booshie for me.”

  “Booshie?”

  “Yeah, you know, bourgeois. Snooty. Too highfalutin’.”

  “Perhaps it’s a case of opposites attract. I can’t see not giving someone a chance just because they’re of a different social status.”

  “You would think that because you’re booshie.”

  My laughter fills the car, this girl is too much. I have to admit, I really do like her.

  “Max, quick update. I’ve got a hacker coming in soon. A guy who specializes in cyber technology – in particular, hacking into computer systems and rooting out people who try to hide behind their online identities. This guy can get into places that most people wouldn’t even know about. The dark web is one fucked up place, and this guy knows his way around it.” I start laughing and just can’t resist adding, “I bet he’s booshie.”

  Her face is grim as she crosses her arms and retorts, “I can’t work with booshie.”

  I take my eyes off the road just long enough to give her a no-nonsense glare and the carefree atmosphere in the car disappears. “You’ll work with whoever I pair you with—we’re a team. This guy’s been referred to me personally by Cash, if that tells you anything. He’s consulted with Undercover Elite and Cash is basically loaning him out to us during Urban Elite’s initial startup. Anyway, it’s not like you’re going to be paired up with him as a partner, Max.”

  “Why do you have to bring a bunch of suits in? Isn’t that what you’re trying to get away from?”

  I can hear the insecurity in her voice, like she thinks she’s going to be tossed to the side if she doesn’t measure up. That isn’t how I operate.

  She doesn’t give me time to answer as she continues, “I don’t work well with people like that, they always look down on me, like I’m young and I don’t know anything.”

  “Listen, I’m never going to allow anyone to come in and treat you like you’re beneath them. The members of this team will work together and respect each other or they’re out. Non-negotiable.”

  I think my answer seems to have satisfied her. She just needs reassurance and I have no problem giving it to her, because I understand where she’s coming from.

  “Why do you call me kiddo all the time?”

  “I call you kiddo because I look at you like you’re my daughter—the daughter I don’t have yet. Now back to the guy I’m bringing in. It boils down to having people who can work together and get the job done. I also need employees who can keep their mouths shut. The fact that this guy comes to us with Cash’s seal of approval is all I need to know, but he’ll be expected to sign a confidentiality agreement the same way you did. There’s no favoritism at Urban Elite. You don’t have to worry about being put on the back burner because he’s a suit—I hire and I fire.”

  “Ha, ha, our killer’s rubbing off on you, you made a rhyme: hire, fire. Too funny,” she chortles. I shake my head as she slaps her knee, laughing at her own lame joke. “And, by the way, don’t worry about your threats of hiring and firing, Mr. Boss Man. I doubt he has anything you can use against him if he’s some rich ass suit. People like that rule the world and we mere mortals are expected to bow down to their oversized egos.”

  “Max, don’t you see that you’re doing the same thing to the suits, as you call them? You immediately decide the doctor you’re going to dinner with isn’t your type because he’s in a different social status. You haven’t even met the guy Cash is sending over and you’ve already decided he’s going to be an egotistical ass. Look, kiddo, I’ll be the first to admit I can be an alpha ass when it comes to running this outfit, but it’s who I am and I make no apologies for it because I’m also the guy who will be here for the team when the chips are down. I don’t run some freewheelin’-Franklin establishment. I’m dealing with young professionals who need guidance to steer them in the right direction so their overzealous natures don’t get them killed.” I look over at her briefly and find that she’s scowling at me. Jesus, I think she’s actually…huffy. “Anyway, you’re judging people before you ever give them a chance.”

  “Freewheelin’-Franklin? That’s hilarious,” she says on an exasperated sigh. “Fine. I get what you’re saying and we’re cool…even if you are an arrogant ass like the rest of the suits you’re bringing in. And you’re still booshie.”

  I cut my eyes at her and she shrugs, smiling at me. Yes, Max is going to work out great. The main thing in this vision I have for training private investigators is that we come together as not just a team but more like a family, and I can feel myself getting attached to Max already. She’s easy to talk to, she’s funny, Valerie likes her (that’s a biggie), and she fits right in. Looking back, I’m glad she hounded me for a job because I couldn’t have found anyone better. The kid has definitely grown on me.

  We’ve entered a pretty seedy part of town, so I slow down and keep a watchful eye on the streets. It doesn’t take long until I spot the person I’m looking for. She spotted me too, so I give her a brief nod before I pull over into a parking lot a little farther down the main drag. She struts over to the SUV, bending down to look in my window.

  “That your girlfriend?” she says as she scowls skeptically. She’s studying Max as if she’s deciding whether or not she likes the idea.

  “No. Officer Valerie Hathaway is my woman. This is Max, one of my employees.”

  “Oh, so you’re a leg man, ‘cause Val be lookin’ all like a Barbie doll and shit. What do you mean, employee?”

  “I bought the old motel on West Jefferson and she’s working there for me.”

  “I get it. So you’re the Urban Elite I’m hearing about on the streets. You got everybody out here all worked up, putting up your big-ass fence around the place. What you doing down there in that fortress?”

  “I’m training a team of private investigators.”

  “You don’t say,” she purrs. “Maybe you’d like to train me.” She waggles her eyebrows at me suggestively. Lady and I have a long history and I know her well enough to know she’s joking, so I play along. But I’m hoping to give her something to think about.

  “Lady Luck, darlin’, you clean up your act and get off these mean streets, and I might just do something about that.”

  “Ha! I ain’t comin’ to work for you. You’re too damn bossy.”

  “And booshie,” Max chimes in.

  “Damn, you got that right, girl! He booshie as
hell!” Lady hoots with laughter, leaning into the car to reach across me and high-five Max’s outstretched hand.

  I know when I’m outnumbered.

  “Hey, no tag teaming the boss!” I complain as both women continue to laugh at my expense, which is fine with me even though I would never let it show. “On a serious note, Lady, have you heard from Chineka?”

  “Nah, she must still be hiding out from that sorry ass pimp of hers.” She stills when I place my hand over hers, somehow recognizing that I’m trying to soften the blow of what I’m getting ready to say.

  “Lady. I think something really bad may have happened to her. I can’t say a whole lot about the details, but there’s this case I’m working on. It’s some nasty shit that’s been going down. I hope I’m wrong, darlin’, but I’ve just got a bad feeling about this.”

  Lady takes a step back from the car as her eyes well with tears. “You work murders and shit like that, Jack. You tellin’ me some freak’s out here killin’ working girls? You think he got Chineka?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.” I’m not surprised that she caught my meaning so quickly; if you spend any amount of time on these streets, regardless of your purpose or profession, you gain a sixth sense. Add to that the natural intuition women seem to possess by the grace of God himself, and there isn’t a whole lot that gets past Lady or any of the working girls out here. Except Chineka, it seems.

  No doubt the story of body parts being found in different areas of the city will be national news by tonight anyway, so it’s not like I’ve revealed anything that would impact the integrity of the investigation.

  “I want you to be careful, Lady, even with your regulars.” The lethal look on her face sends a chill up my spine.

  “I’m gonna’ tell ya straight up, Detective Jack. That motherfucker is foolish enough to come after me, it won’t be me gettin’ fileted on the coroner’s table.”

  I barely hear Max mutter under her breath, “I know that’s right!”

  This guy is already accomplishing what he wants—he’s getting into people’s heads. Serial killers feed off attention and notoriety, especially from the press. The press can do for them what no one else can—they can make killers celebrities overnight. These psychos don’t care if the public hates them. They feed off the power of knowing they’re striking fear in the hearts of the multitudes.

  We all have control issues. I, of all people, know that. Being the reason why people are double-checking the locks on their doors and windows is a power trip for someone who’s already evil to the core.

  Too bad for this fucker, I’m going to use it against him.

  Chapter Twenty

  Max

  I take one last look in the mirror as I attempt to will the butterflies in my stomach away. This is nothing but an interview, but the prospect of dining in a private country club slammed home the realization of how high on the food chain this guy is. I’m glad we agreed on someplace different. Merlot’s is still fine dining but I feel more comfortable going there than some highfalutin’ country club.

  I want the interview to go well and, like my professor says, whatever it takes to get the job done. Even if it means dressing up and going out with a guy who isn’t my type.

  I head to Jack’s office first, just to see what kind of reaction I get to my outfit. I’m dressed in a simple black dress -- fitted, but not too fitted -- with black stockings and black heels. I chose to wear the strand of pearls my mother gave me before her death. They’re a security blanket, a way of taking along the woman who gave me the confidence to be who I am with no apologies.

  When other people didn’t understand me wanting to get into investigative journalism, she encouraged me to follow my heart. My mother was my biggest fan so I like the idea of taking her along on my first big interview. I barrel curled my long brown hair with a large curling iron I rarely use. I’ve got on light make-up but I did go for some kickass red lipstick. The real test will be seeing what my boss thinks. Boss or not, at the end of the day, he’s still a man.

  I sneak in and he doesn’t look up from his stack of paperwork until I’m directly in front of his desk. He raises his head, freezes, and slowly removes his reading glasses as he studies the transformation.

  “Max…You look like a million bucks, kid. Absolutely stunning. Now I’m going to do the overprotective dad thing. Do you have your new cell phone with the panic button on it?”

  “Yep, right here.” I hold it up, offering him proof to put his mind at ease. He raises a skeptical brow when he asks his next question. “Is he coming to pick you up?”

  “God, no. I called him back later and told him I’d meet him there.”

  “Because you didn’t want it to be a date.” He immediately pinpoints my reasoning.

  “You got it. After all, this is an interview so I’d like to maintain an advantage and control my movements. I’ll be the first to admit he’s hot, but he’s really not my type.”

  “Okay, well, being that I’ve already done my homework on the distinguished doc—“ he holds up a file he’s made up on the guy—“then you can run along and have fun.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. I can’t believe you investigated an orthopedist. All those years of being a cop have jaded you, Jack.”

  “Do I look like I’m kidding?” The twinkle in his eyes is gone, replace by a grim expression that makes it very clear that he’s serious about this. By now, Jack probably knows where the guy has his high dollar suits tailored.

  I shake my head and leave Jack’s office and head out to the parking lot. This is one time I probably don’t mind him being so overprotective. A serial killer knowing my identity without me knowing his, is enough to make a girl nervous.

  I pause outside the building just long enough to take a quick look under the car and in the back seat, making sure I don’t have any unexpected company waiting for me. Then I press the remote access button on my key fob and slide into my Kia. I immediately lock the door and take a deep breath. For the first time, I feel fear as a result of my chosen profession – and it’s starting to piss me off.

  Chapter Twenty One

  His Dominion

  I brush her long, dark hair and talk softly to her while she sits on the edge of the bed.

  “I’m going out tonight. I do that from time to time, you know. Can’t stay here with you all the time, my dear. I need to make the occasional appearance here and there, be a man about town. Wouldn’t want people to talk, would we? There’s no reason for you to be jealous though. You know you’re my favorite. You’re safe here, I’ve made sure of it. And that’s a good thing as it seems there’s a serial killer running loose.”

  I feel the shiver course through her. I wrap my arm around her, pressing my hand against her stomach to pull her against me so I can rest my chin on her shoulder. With my other hand, I stroke her soft cheek before I clasp the slim column of her neck, just above her collar, enjoying the way her breath hitches when I squeeze the tender flesh. “Yes, it’s a good thing you’re here with me, right where you belong.” I breathe a sigh of contentment when she gasps and coughs as I loosen the grip of my fingers from around her lovely throat. “That’s really all I want—to protect you, my love.”

  I stand up, looking down at her for a moment before smiling indulgently. “Here, look, I brought you something.” Her eyes light up when I pull a small paperback book from my inner jacket pocket. “You said you wished you had something to read, so… I listen to your every word, you know. Now be a good girl and sit on your cot so I can fasten your chain.”

  She lifts her neck willingly enough, giving me access to the locked collar that adorns her neck—my collar. “You see? When you behave, good things happen. No more manacles cutting into your wrists and ankles. Just this collar…because you’re mine. Although, I must admit, I do like the marks they left. I’m afraid I’ll miss them when they’re gone,” I murmur wistfully as I rub my thumb across the raised, red flesh of her wrist.

 
Because she has shown promise in her compliance, I’ve allowed her to progress from wearing the manacles that bit mercilessly into her flesh. Instead, the heavy chain attached to her collar allows her some freedom of movement.

  “One day soon, darling, I won’t need to keep you chained like this at all. Although I may still keep you collared – but perhaps with something more decorative. Then you’ll understand what I’ve known all along, that you are and will always be mine. And then? Then the chains will be here,” I lightly touch her temple, “in your mind.” I place my large palm over her heart, “and here. But, until then, I’m afraid the chain is your constant companion. You know,” I say with a frown, “I could almost be a little jealous.”

  She’s looking at me intently, soaking up every word. Really, what else is she to do? I’m all she’s got. It’s only a matter of time until she’ll willingly be mine. I’ve invested a great deal of time to make her see the truth, that she belongs to me now, that she’s property. My property.

  I cover her with the pretty new comforter I gave to her yesterday. My approach as her host is very simple, really: when she pleases me, she’s rewarded. When she displeases me, the little luxuries she’s earned like the book and the comforter? They’re taken away. My house, my rules. Simple.

  She’s already curled up in the fetal position with her book, running her fingers lovingly over the pages. I bend down and kiss her cheek. “Don’t make me regret doing away with the manacles. And make sure you drink plenty of water, it’s important that you stay hydrated, darling.”

  I started drugging her water with a mild sedative when she was first abducted; now I make it available to her when I’m away for any length of time. I consider it insurance.

  I hold up my cell phone to remind her she’s under surveillance. “You would do well to not underestimate me. I’ll be very displeased if you do. Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness; the results of doing so will be…harsh.”

  I wait until she nods tentatively. With a serene smile, I turn and jog up the steps to the large wooden door that resembles that of a castle. I’m never gone long, just long enough for her to miss me…and wonder if I’m ever coming back.